Compare towns
Epping vs Alton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Epping | Alton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Highest |
5,994 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Alton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 4% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.